War Bomber's tactical speed an advantage in Eclipse Stakes
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Sovereign Award finalist War Bomber is one of several contenders starting for the first time this year in Sunday’s Grade 2, $175,000 Eclipse, one of two stakes on the Woodbine card, along with the $100,000 Pink Lloyd.
A $25,000 claim by trainer Norm McKnight in 2021, War Bomber won the 2021 Toronto Cup and last year’s Grade 3 Seagram Cup. He barely lost the Grade 2 Autumn in November to Who’s the Star, who also beat him out in the 2022 Sovereign Award voting for champion older male on the main track.
War Bomber wintered at owner Bruno Schickedanz’s Ontario farm and has worked regularly here on the Tapeta this spring. McKnight said the War Front gelding’s tactical speed is one of his best weapons.
“It gives him a little bit of an edge,” McKnight said. “At the break, the rider can assess what’s happening and put him where he needs to be. He can make the front or sit off it. He’s acting real good. I think he looks better this year.”
Artie’s Storm took last year’s 1 1/16-mile Eclipse in his season opener and will try to duplicate that feat under regular rider David Moran.
“It’s a big field – a tough race, with horses who have a race under their belt, but Artie is training well and working good,” Moran said. “He’s in good shape coming into it.”
Treason has been idle since a front-running fourth in the fast-paced Autumn. He got a whopping 101 Beyer Speed Figure when airing in a Sept. 4 allowance here in his first synthetic-track excursion. He has been working right along and is one of two Josie Carroll-trained entrants, along with Tyson.
The “now” horse in the 11-horse field is Rondure, who’s coming off a conditioned allowance score in his second start off the sidelines. Last July, he romped in the Grade 3 Marine in the third start of his form cycle, earning a 95 Beyer in the process.
“I’m hoping he’s on the same trajectory,” trainer Katerina Vassilieva said.
Kentucky Cup Classic winner Wolfie’s Dynaghost is 3 for 3 on Tapeta. John Velazquez has been booked to ride the Keeneland-based gelding by trainer Jonathan Thomas.
Pink Lloyd
The speedy Rockcrest should be prominent in the six-furlong Pink Lloyd, an Ontario-sired event with a 13-horse field that was formerly known as the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes.
Pink Lloyd was the 2017 Canadian Horse of the Year and a five-time champion sprinter before his retirement in 2021. Like Pink Lloyd, Rockcrest is a gelded son of Old Forester.
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Rockcrest wintered in Florida before contesting a tough conditioned allowance/optional claimer here April 29. After disposing of the other speed, he held off the troubled favorite, Filo Di Arianna, to prevail by a half-length with a career-high 96 Beyer.
Owner/trainer Nigel Burke has lots of admiration for Rockcrest.
“He’s definitely a horse that tries every time he’s out there,” Burke said. “He’s just very special to me. He was my first winner in Canada and my first stakes winner. I’m a small operation, but he makes me feel like I can compete with the big ones to a certain extent.”
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